Form fob concrete building construction



A. I. ORTSEIFEN.

FORM FOR CONCRETE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

,APPLICATION FILED OCT. Il, i919. v 1,325,261. 111191111111 Dec. 111,1919.

BY MM 'ArroRmsm A. J. ORTSEIFEN.

FORM Foa CONCRETE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION'.

WITNESS:

INVENTOR: ln/)1.1% .f JYTSL'IFEM A. I. ORTSEIFEN.

FORM FOR CONCRETE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

` APPLICATION. FILED OCT. Il. T919. 1,325,261. Patented De@.16,1919.

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ATTORWS.

ADOLPH J. OR'ISEIFEN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FORM FOR CONCRETE BUILDING -CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Application filed October 11, 1919. Serial No. 330,026.

To all 'whom 't-may concern:

Be it. known that I, ADoLPH J, OR'ISEIFEN,

' a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of Chicago,in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Forms for Concrete Building Construction; andI do hereby declare that the following-description of my invention,taken in co-nnection with the accompanying sheets of drawings, formavI'ull, clear, and exact specification, which will enable othersskilled in the art to which the said invention appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention has general reference to concrete buildings, and isespecially addressed to the construction of the forms or molds for thegirdcrs, joists and floors for l se the production of a monolithicbuilding structure; and it consists, essentially, in the novel andpeculiar combination of parts and details of construct-ion, ashereinafter irst fully set forth and described, and then pointed out inIthe claims.

One of the objects of this invention is the construction of forms, madeAof Wooden boards and timbers, which can be readily erected and knockeddown for reuse in connection With sheets ofYY suitable material forforming the -side panels of the girders, and for closing the open jointsat the intersection of the girder, and the joist forms.

Another object ofthis invention is the construction of forms whichrequire the least number of props or supports to sustain the forms andthe concrete until the latter has set and hardened sufficiently to beself-sus- A taining.

A further object of thisinvention is the construction of forms in whichleakage of fluid concrete is entirely overcome,

Other objects of this invention will herejnafter fully appear.

In the erection of casting-forms for concrete buildings, considerabledifficulty is eX- perienced in preventing leaky joints, partly due tothe shrinkage of the lumber employed, and particularly at those placesWhere the forms for the j oists meet the foi-111s for the girders andfor the floors. Another difficulty is met with when the forms are to .betaken down to separate them from the concrete and from one another,resulting generally in the destruction of considera'ble lumber, Which atthe prevailing, almost prohibitive price Of this material `joists of aconcrete building. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 2 2 ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of' a T-girder form andassociated parts thereof. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on line 4 4 ofFig. l, Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the boxshaped element. whichforms the side panels for the girders and closes the gaps between the'girder and the joist forms. Fig. 6 is a plan of the blank from. whichthe boxshaped element is formed. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on line7-'7 of Fig. `5. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of a girder similar tothe one shown in Fig. 4, except that the element 35 of the box-shapedelement is inwardly turned instead of outwardly as illustrated in Figs.5, 7 andothers. F ig. 9' is a sectional elevationv of a joist formslightly Inodied. Fig. 10 is a perspective View off the box-shapedelement showing the condition illustrated in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a planof the blank from which the boX- shaped element depicted in Fig. l0 is`formed. "Fig, l2 is a sectional elevation of are poured as fast aspossible toV secure inl tegrally `connected members; and for this reasonthe forms or molds must be as nearly as possible in position for one`floor. This requires a large number of boards, timbers, and plankswhich it is desirable to be so placed in position that theyvcan bereadily dcmounted and reused, especially in buildings having amultiplicity of stories the general layout of which are alike. Such abuilding has almost invariably one or more longitudinal girders and aconsiderablenumber of spaced apart beams'or joists to support the floorsandthe Weight Which the floors are calculated to carry. In Figs. 3 I

and 4, I show sections of a girder A, and a number of joists B,connected therewith, which members support the floor C, the whole whencast being an integrally formed and homogenetic structure. Theseelements are cast in molds consisting of many parts,

as will now be described; and in this connection I may state that it isa uniform practice to make all the bays of a building as near alike aspossible to enable the forms being used over and over again withoutcutting or reiitting, until they are no longer in condition for use.These forms are so constructed that those in which the joists are castare capable of being used without any intermediate supports or props,while the forms for the girders are properly supported by posts sodesigned as also to carry the ends of the joists adjacent the girders.The forms for the joists comprise each two vertically disposed planks,designated side panels, 12, 12, spaced a distance apart corresponding tothe width of the joists, and of proper height, and slightly less inlength than that of the joists when cast.

These two side panels are at their lower` margins separated by spacers13, 13a, said spacers being timbers vof approximately the same length asthe side panels 12, 12a, and, preferably oblong in transverse section.They are secured to the inner sides of the side panels 12, 12a, in anydesired manner, being either nailed or screwed together, there being,however, .no fastening between adjacent. margins of these elements 13,13a. At the upper margins of the side panels there are securely attachedto the outside of these panels stringers 17, 17, which are flush withthe upper edges of the side panels 12, 12a. As usual, the joists B yarein spaced apart relationship; and to form the floor C, which affords theCeiling'of a story, there are placed upon adjacent side panels 12, 12a,slab panels 18, which are constructed of a number of planks preferablytongued and vgrooved together, and secured by cleats 19, to which theplanks forming the slab panel are nailed or screwed. These cleats 19 areof a length to span the space between two adjacent stringers 17 17, toserre as spreaders; and their ends are beveled, as at 54, Figs. 2 and 9,the object of which is to permit theside panels 12, 12a, being spreadapart for the purpose of removing the joist forms, as hereinafterexplained.

The form for the girder shown Ain vertical section in Fig. 4, consistsof horizontally disposed planks 20, 20a, of a combined width slightly inexcess of the width of the girder when cast. These planks 20, 20a, aresupported by props or posts 21, having across its upper end a timber 22,of sutlicient length to support said bottom timbers 20, 20, andstringers to be hereinafter described, said cross timber 22 beingsuitably braced by struts 23. Medially of its length there is placedupon the timber 22, a block 24, which reachesunderneath the planks 20,20a.

Upon the cross pieces 22, and at the sides of the girder-form there arelocated two stringere 25, 25a, of suitable length, which reachunderneath the bottoms of the joist forms and are supported upon thecrosspieces 22 by wedges 26, 26, for the purpose of alining the joistforms with the girder form, and also to enable the ready 'removal of thejoist forms.

Attention is now invited to the forms fo the girder A, at which themolds of the joists stop short of the sides of the girder. These sidesfor the girder, designated by 27, 27a, in Fig. 4, are formed,preferably, of paper board of suflicient strength to sustain theconcrete between them until set; and it is', preferably, waterproofed onone or both sides to/prevent softening, by the wet concrete. This paperboard is a rectangular sheet, shown in Fig. 6 and others, which isformed into a box-like structure, as illustrated in Figs. 5, 7, 10, and11. This blank has at its transverse margins longitudinal incisions 28,28a, Fig. 6, and in its lower, longitudinal margin transverse in-vcisions 29, 29a, reaching for some distance from these margins; f Thisblank is folded at right angles longitudinally along the` dotted lines30, 36a, parallel to the incisions 28, 28B, and then transversely atright angles along the dotted lines 31, 31, the bend- 31a, being thelength of the face portion 316,

corresponds to the distance between the inner faces of the side panels12, 12a, of two adjacent joist-forms, the height of this face portionequals the depth'of the joists; the width of the member 37issutlicientto overlie the slab panel, and to' which it is, preferablytacked, while the members 35 are overlying the bottom timbers 20, 20a,and are tacked thereto, and if preferred overlying each other to closethe joints in these planks. The end members 33, 33a, are tacked to theinner surfaces of the side panels 12, 12a, and the members 34, 34a,tacked upon the spreaders 13, 13, and preferably overlap each other tocover the joint between the two spreader members. It will now be notedthat the end portions v33, 33a, cover the gap between the ends of thejoist forms and the sides of the girder when cast, and that the betweenthe bottom members 20, 20h1 of the 'lower portions 34, 34, are over the.gap 38 girder-form and the ends of the spreaders 13, 13",. and that themember 37 bridges the gap'between the side of the girder form and theend of the slab panel, or in other words, that the portions 36 forni, asa matter of fact, the sides for` the girder form, and the ymembers 33,33, 'and 35, form conitinuations ofthe joist .form and thus make tightjoints between these parts and pre'- vent leakage of the iuid matterwhen the concrete is being cast.

The object of leavingthe gap between the girder form andthe joist formis to facilitate demounting of the forms without destroying or injuringany of the wooden parts of these forms.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 9, the

` side panels 12, 12, are tied along their lowerA margins by spacedapart wires 14, which wires pass underneath the spacers 13, 13, and aretwisted together, as illustrated at 15, to draw the joint of themembers13, 13a together and prevent leakage. In addition to serving asties, these wires also support the reinforcing rods 15 .until theconcrete has been poured and set.

The demounting of the forms is accomplished in the following manner:

First remove the joist forms by knocking out the wedges 26, 26a, andthen remove the stringere 25, 25a, the form being held in position bythe tie Wires 14.' These wires are now cut olf close to the sidey panels12,

12, and these panels are lthen forced apart by driving a chisel or othersuitable instrument into the joint between the spreaders 13, 13, whichreleases the side panels from the concrete and permits the joist formsto be dropped one' after4 the other together with the slab panels andthe timbers 49, the box shaped paper boards probably remaining in place,but may also come down l with the side panels. The props which. sup-.portthe blocks 24, and the bottom boards 20,

20, of the girder form may remain in place for some time after the floorwith itssupporting girder and joists have sufficiently hardened. It willthus be noted that there can be no jamming at the intersection of thejoist forms with the girder form, owing to the decided gaptherebetweenso that these forms will not be injured in the slightest degree whenbeing removed, and that they will be immediately ready for reuse.

When the girder is to be of what is termed a T-girder, such as shown insection lin Fig. 3, I make the form for this girder somewhat differentfrom the form hereinbefore described', for a plain rectangular girder.In this case I provide two side panels, 39, 39a, to form the stem D ofthe girder, and place spreaders .40 between these panels. I then nail tothe upper edges of these side panels planks 42, 42a, extendinghorizontally from the panels 39, 39a,- which 'members 39, 39a, 40, 40a,and 42, 42EL is supported upon props 43, precisely the same as the propsfor the rectangular girder, and' byl stringers 44, and wedges 45. Apaper board form the same as shown in Figs. 5 and others, is tacked withits member 37 to the slab panel 18, the members 35 Vare tacked to thehorizontal planks 42, 42a, and the end f members 33, 33a to the innersides ofthe side panels of the joist panels, thereby closing the gap 38,between the girder, and the joist forms.

In the present construction I employ no wooden side panels for thegirder mold, eX- cept in thecase of a T-girder, where I em'- ploy woodenside panels 39, 39L for the lower portion or stem D vof the girder A, apaper board form for the v`entire sides of' the T-girder -not beingconsidered sufciently rigid to form both, the stem and the head of thisIT-girde'r.

Where a plastered ceiling is 'required -in the concrete building, I donot cut the tie.-

In some instances itis desirable to formA the joists as illustrated inFig. 9, z'. e'. giving them the contour in cross section of a truncatedcone, in 'view of the well-known fact that in a. concrete beam theportion of the same above the neutral axis or center of gravity is incompression, While the portion ofthe beam below the neutral axis is intension, and that concrete inA tension has so low a factor of resistanceto rupture, that of a beam to carry a predetermined load, the lowerportion of the concrete is notcensi'dered, the strain being taken up bythe rein*v forcing rods. It follows that the lower` por tion of the beammay be considerably narrower Vthan the upper portion above the neutralaxis, thereby resulting in a reduction vof the weight of the beam, andthe cost of producing the same. In this case I place the side panels12"` 12C, Fig. 9, at an angle to eachY other, and then employ abox-shaped paper-board element, the blank of which is shown in Fig. 13.l It is substantially the same as the one illustrated in Fig. 6, except'in making calculations for the dimensions that the folding lines 31,31a, are angularly disposed to correspond to the angularity of the joistillustrated in Fig. 9, so that when Yfolded to box-shape, the marginalportions 33, 33, t the inside surfaces of the side panels 12", 12. Andin this connection I may remarkthat instead -of makingv the incisions28', 28a, parallel to the longitudinal upper margin of the blank, asshown in Fig. 6, I may make them parallel to the transverse end-marginsof the blank, as shown in Fig. 13, so that when the blank is folded, ashereinbefore described, the kcorner portions 32, 32, overlie themarginal portion 37, 'as depicted in Figs. 10 and 11, a constructionwhich has the advantage that it facilitates taeking of the cornerportions 32, 32, to the slab panel instead to the inside of the sidepanels, together with the portion 37.

The slap panels-are narrower than the distance between the sidepanels 12of one of the joist molds and the side panel l2" of the next succeedingjoist mold as shown in Fig. 2, and others, thereby leaving a space 38between the slab panel and the box-shaped` these square portions, asindicated at 50,

Fig. 2, which will afford fillets at the junc tion of the joists and theceiling of the fioor, 1n a manner easily comprehended.

If desired the box-shaped element hereinbefore described for forming theside panels of the girder form, and closing the gap between the girderform and thejoists forms, instead of being made of paper board, which Iprefer owing to the. fact that it is comparatively inexpensive and thatit can be readily manipulated to assume the proper shape, may be made ofany other suitable sheet material, including metal Without departingfrom the scope of my invention. In applying the paper board it is notnecessary, though desirable, that it be first formed 1o the box-shapeshown; The blank can be readily applied to the structure in the Hat andbent 'in situ to the form required.

Attention is noiv invited to the fact that in this construction no propsare required to support the forms for the joists aside from the supportwhich they receive by the stringers 25, 25a, which are carried upon thecross pieces 23 ofthe posts 21. This is made possible by the peculiarconstruction of the side panels, which, as shoivn in` Fig. 2 and others,are formed of the vstringers 17, 17, the spacers 13, 13a, and thevertical members 12, 122, so that each side panel is of Z-shapedconstruct-ion; and the dimensions of the members of these elements areso calculated that they will support their own weight together with thepredetermined load thereon plus a sufficient factor of safety toaccomplish the object Without any appreciable deflection of thestructure.

It may also be here noted that in View of the fact that in a building incourse of Y reached.

construction, the floors are not loaded until the building is beingoccupied, so that the floors for the time being need carry but their owni Weight. For this reason, the forms for the joists can be removed assoon as the concrete is hard enough to sustain itself, and be rerectedfor further use, thus requiring considerably less lumber and forms whenpursuing the method hereinbefore described than has heretofore beennecessary to erect a concrete building. I can also erect a. concretebuilding at less cost, with a, saving of time to complete the same.

-In order to readily understand why, by exercising my method of erectinga concrete building, I attain these results, I Abelieve that a briefrecital of the present method now in universal'vogue, will be an aid.

In a building of more than one floor, and including a basement orcellar, and frequently sub-cellars, the present practice after thefoundations have been laid, is to erect the forms for the columns, thegirders, and the joists for the first floor, Asupporting the molds forthe girders as Well as the joists upon posts, placing the slab panels,and then pouring the concrete for the columns, the girders, the joists,and the Hoor, and allowing the concrete to set and harden sufficiently1to be self-supporting, but not necessarily hard enough to carry anyadditional Weight. The posts, the molds for the columns, the girders,and the joists are left in place, and a second set of forms forthesecond floor erected upon the first Hoor, the posts for the secondfloor being placed over the slots on the floor below which there are theposts for the first floor, and then the second floor cast. Vhere time isa consideration, even a` third set of molds is erected upon the secondfloor, thereby requiring at best three sets of molds and posts for thejoists before the lowermost set can be removed, ivhich removal, however,is scarcely ever attempted until all the floors of the building are castand hardened enough to permit of the removal of the forn'is.

It will thus be noted that the first floor has to carry the weight ofall the floors above the same, because the weight of the uppermost flooris carried to the fioor neXt below, and so forth until the first Hoor isNow, by making the oist molds as hereinbefore described, of Z-shapedcross section and strong enough to carry the Weight of the unloadedfloor Without supporting posts, there are no posts required for thejoists of upper floors, hence no Weight is carried doivn to the secondfloor. Such being the case, I can remove the joist molds of the firstfloor as soon as the concrete has hardened enough to sustain its ownWeight, and immediately locate them in position for the second floor,and continue to do this until all the floors are cast. Thus I requirebut one set f joist molds, and no posts for the same, and need not waituntil the first 'floor 'is hard enough to carry additional erable andresults in a very material reducbeen cast.

tion in the cost of erectingrv a concrete building.

Of course, the molds for the girders and then posts to support them willremainx in position, preferably, until all the floors have And finally,it may be -observed that Wherever columns E, are required to support thegirders, they may be constructed in anydesired manner withoutnecessitating modifications of the forms for the girders and joistshereinbefore described.

I have hereinbefore 4described this invention with considerableminuteness as to details of construction, but I am aware that changestherein may be made, and parts omitted without departing from the scopeof this invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described this invention, I claim as new, and desireto secure to myself by Letters Patent of the United-Statesl. In the art-of forming monolithic concrete structures, means for casting thegirders, joists, and floors therein, which comprise in combination, aform or mold for the girders, a series of molds for the joists andfloors, the ends of the molds for the joists a'djacent the molds for thegirders being spaced from the molds for the girders to afford a decidedgap' therebetween, and a box-shaped element reaching from one of thejoist molds to the next joist mold, said box-shaped element havingmembers which cover Ythe aforesaid gaps, and form a part of the girdermold.

2. In molds for concrete building structures to form the joists, thecombination, of two, spaced apart side panels, bottom members betweensaid side panels, said bottom members being fixed to the side panels,said side panels being-tied together by wires,

said wires passing around the lower margins of said side panels andhaving their ends twisted together, and stringers at the upper marginsof said side panels, said stringers being secured to the outer surfaceof said side panels and iiush with the upper edges thereof, each of saidside panels being of Z-shape transversely.

3. In molds for forming the girders and joists for concrete structures,the combination, with a mold' for the girder of a mold for the joists,said latter molds comprising two side panels in parallel spacedrelationship, bottom members or spacers' at the lower margins of saidside panels, a series of wireties passing through said side panels abovesaid bottom spacers, said wires bein passed around the lower margins andun erneath said spacers, the ends of said wires being twisted together,stringers at the upper margins of the side panels, said stringers beingaiiixed to said side lpanels at the outer surface thereof, slabpanelsvbetween -adjacent side panels and supported upon said stringers,and an element reaching from `one side panel to the neXt adjacent sidepanel, said element having its ends turned at right angles to overlapthe ends of the side panels, said element having its upper longitudinalmargin overlapping the slab panel and its lower longitudinalY marginsecured to the girder form..

4. In -molds for forming the girders and joists for concrete structures,the combina-- tion, with a mold forthe girder, of a mold for the joists,said latter mold comprising two side panels in parallel spacedrelationship, bottom members or spacers at the lower margins of saidside panels, a series of wire-ties passing through said side panelsabove said bottom spacers, Asaid wiresbeing passed around the lowermarginsand underneath said spacers, the ends of said wires being twistedtogether, stringers at the upper margins of the side panels, saidstringers being aiiixed to said side panels at the outer surfacethereof, slabpanels between adjacent side panels Aand supported uponsaid stringers, and an element reaching from one side panel to the neXtadjacent side panel, said element having its ends turned at right anglesto overlapthe ends of the side panels, said element having its upperlongitudinal margin overlapping the slab panel and its lowervlongitudinal margin secured to the girder form, the main portion of saidelement forming one side panel member of the girder mold.

5. An element for closing the gap between a girder form and a joistmold, comprising a `rectangularsheet of suitable material, said sheethaving parallel to one of itsllongitudinal margins and spaced therefromand reaching for some distance from its transverse margins, incisions,and starting from the other longitudinal margin and extending therefromfor some distance parallel to the transverse margins other incisions,said sheet being folded and refolded' to afford members by which saidelement may be secured to the molds, as described.

6. In the art of forming monolithic concrete structures, means forforming the girders, the joists, and the floors, including, incombination, a bottom board for the girder form, a series of joistmolds, each of said joist molds including two spaced apart Z-shaped sidepanels, a slab panel between each pair of j oist forms, said slab panelhaving a series of cleats, the ends of said cleats being beveled, saidcleats reaching from one, to the next jolst form and serving as a spacerfor said joist form, st-rmgers at both sides of the girder form, saidstringers underlying said joist form, posts, said posts having crossbars supporting the bottom of the girder form, wedges on said cross barsunderneath said stringers Jfor adjustably supporting said joist formsadjacent said girder form, and an element reaching from one joist formto the next joist form, said elementbeing of approximately box-shapedcontour, the main portion of said element forming one side panel of thegirder form, the end portions and one lower portion of said elementforming continuations of the joist form, and the upper portion coveringthe gap between the slab panel and the girder form, the ends of saidjoist forms adjacent the girder form being remote from the girder formand disconnected therefrom except by the box-shaped element.

7. In the art of forming monolithic concrete structures, means forcasting the girders, the joist's, and the floors of the building,comprising, in combination, a girder mold, said girder mold having abottom, stringers at the sides of the bottom board, posts under saidbottom board, said posts having cross bars supporting said bottom boardand reaching beyond said stringers, joist molds in spaced apartrelationship, said joist molds comprising each a. pair of Z-shaped sidepanels, said side panels being so arranged as to be self-supporting andcapable of sstaining the concrete forthe joist and the prope`1 portionof the floor when cast, the ends of t-he joist forms being remote fromthe sides of the girder form, said ends of the joint forms being carriedupon said stringers, removable means for vertically adjusting saidstringere, whereby by removing said adjusting means the joist forms maybe removed as soon as the concrete has hardened suflicient-ly to beself-supporting.

8. In the art of forming monolithic concrete structures, means forforming the joists, said means including, in Combination, a pair of sidepanels in parallel spaced relationship, said side panels having each avertically disposed member, an inwardly extending member at the lowermargin of said vertically disposed member, an outwardly extending memberat the upper margin of said vertical member, the inwardly extendingmembers being disconnected from each other, the lower and upper membersbeing rigidly secured to the vertical member, and means for tying thevertically disposed members together at their lower margins,

whereby said side-panels may be forced apart at the joint of theinwardly extending, members by releasing said tying means to permit theremoval of the joist form after the joist has been cast. l

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereuntoset my hand.

ADOLPH J. .ORTSEIFEN

